Propeller for submerging and steering subaqueous and floating vessels



U. ANTON] Dec. 29, 1931.

PROPELLEH FOR SUBMERGING AND STEERING SUBAQUEOUS AND FLOATING VESSELS Filed May 22, 1930 m Lllifjlibil ild Patented Dec. 29, 1931 UNITED STATES PA ENT OFFICE UGO ANTONI, or v AnnGeIo, ITALY PROPELLER FOR sunmnneme Ann sr nnnrne snnaounous Am) FLOATIIiTG vEss Ls Application filed May 22, 1930, Serial No. 454.7 4. andin 'ltaly Ha es; 1929..

This invention relates to an oscillating propeller or fin for submerging and steering subaqueous and floating vessels.

Practice has shown that the use of such pro- '5 pellers or fins, oscillatable through a sector and formed of a flexible plate of decreasing cillatable axis of the fin.

The invention further consists in an oscillating propeller or fin for steering submarine and surface vessels, comprising a plate and flexible arms having a flexibility increasing from root to tip connecting this plate to the oscillatable shaft carrying the fin.

According to a further feature of the invention, these flexible arms have a constant thick ness and a gradually decreasing width from root to tip.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front View of the propeller or v fin.

Figure 2 is a side view. Figure 3 shows a diagram of movement. Figure 4 shows a submersible vessel fitted with the improved propellers according to the invention.

In carrying the invention into effect in the form illustrated,the new propeller or fin comprises a rigid plate a with on or more flexible arms I) fixed to it at c and preferably, but not necessarily, a base plate 03 for connecting and fixing the arms 6. The plate a may be integral with the arms I; and its object is to produce the flexion of the arms 6 owing to the resistance met with during the oscillation through angles within 90 (see Figure 2);

Thearm'slb which always tend to return to aposition of rest,-impart a thrust (due to molecular resistanceltothe axis orattachment point (propeller shaft m) proportional to the elasticity and the number of fiexions perminute. 1 9

This type of propeller may be employed for overcoming the upward thrust due to buoyancy in submarinecraft, and for steeringthemboth at the surface and when sub- 1nerged,"any desired evolution being effected. It may alsojbe used for raising the vessel to the surface when the latter, owing to a leak,

becomes heavier than the displaced fluid.

f Practice has shown that:.

' 1. The propellers or. fins according ,tothe inventionpwhen fitted to the sides of the vessel fore and aft, are capable of overcoming a considerable buoyancy, thereby permitting the vessel to be submerged immediately with parallel displacements, without resorting to flooding the tanks. i

2'; By regulating the movement of the propellers until equilibrium is reached between the down thrust of the propellers and the Y buoyancy of the vessel, the latter can be held in perfect equilibrium within thewater (between the surface and. the bottom) orit may perform all evolutions; as if it were floating on the surface.

'3. E volutions'may be effected, around the vertical axis oo fthe vessel byf-operating'the said propellers in a horizontal sector, those atthebow being operated in the opposite direction to ,thoseat the stern.

4. Parallel horizontal movements of the vessel may be effected by operating both propellers in horizontal sectors, but in the same direction, both fore and aft.

5. The vessel may be brought to the sur- 7 face by stopping the driving apparatus. The.

buoyancy of'the apparatus vessel may be employed for raising it to the surface, by

stopping the driving apparatus.

6. Whenthe vessel is heavier than the displaced fluid it may be returned to the surface by operating the propellers with their tip direct-ed downwards, i. e. with the axis of movement upwards with regard to the propeller. V

Figure 3 shows the four sectors of movement in which the propellers may be operated for steering and submerging the vessel; namely, the sector it for submersion, the sectors h, h for combined horizontal movements, as above described, and the sector it" for emersion in the case when the vessel is weighted owin'gtoa leak, or for rapid-emersion by adding the dynamic thrust of the propellers to the upward thrust ofthe'buoyancy.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inventionand in what manner the same is to be performed I declare'that what I claim is:

1. In propellers as describedfilexible arms with parallel thicknesses, fixed at the top to the rigidplate or integral therewith, and fixedat the bottom to the propeller shaft, theirshape being broad at the base and decreasing in width towards the attachment point to tlie'rigid resistance plate.

2 Anoscillating propeller or fin for submerging: and-steering submarine and surface vessels, comprising a plate and flexible arms having a flexibility increasing from root to tip connecting this plate to the oscillatable shaft carrying-the fin.

3: An oscillatingv propeller or fi n for sub merging and steer-in submarine and; surface vessels, comprising a rigidplate and flexible arms havinga flexibility increasing fromroot to tip conneetingthisplate tothe oscillatable shaft carrying the fin. r

4. An oscillating'propeller or fin for submerging andsteering submarine and surface vessels comprising a plate and flexibl e arm's havinga constant thickness'an'd a gradually decreasing width from root to tip connecting this plate to the oscillatable shaft carry- 5. An oscillating propeller or fin for submerg-ing or/and steering surface and submarine vessels, comprisinga plate and flexible arms forming the sole connection between this plate and the oscillatablea'xisof the fin and whereby the oscillating movement of the axis is-transmitted to the plate.

In 'testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

UGQ ANTONI. 

